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Showing posts from October, 2019

Happy Dussera!

The last time I enjoyed dussera was more than 16 yrs back. We lived in Delhi back then. The days spanning the navratri to dussera till diwali spelled festivities, kanjak, colorful attire, sweets, firecrackers (and of course pollution). Diwalis especially used to be a nightmare for those allergic to smog (smoke+fog). This used to be the Ramayana review time. Every kindergartner knew that the good prevailed over evil! That Ravana had 10 heads, he had a  giant brother who was lucky enough to sleep as he liked and eat as he liked and who did both generously, were favourite part of the tales. (It took adulthood to realise that such tastes could be maintained only in mythologies) There used to be huge open grounds or parks (if they were properly maintained) which were the sites for ravana-dehen. People in hundreds and thousands would turn up by evening to see tall effigies of Raavan (and Kumbhkarana and Vibhishan) being burned. Dressed in mythological combat or sometimes, regal style  the